Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]
Net Income	$ 27,996	$ 23,438
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6)	(18)
Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.	$ 27,990	$ 23,420
Basic earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding	71,449,000	70,850,000
Per share amount	$ 0.39	$ 0.33
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:
Weighted average shares outstanding	71,449,000	70,850,000
Effect of dilutive securities: Stock options and restricted stock	446,000	562,000
Weighted average shares assuming dilution	71,895,000	71,412,000
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.39	$ 0.33
Restricted Stock [Member]
Basic and diluted earnings per share (Textual) [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	0
Stock Options [Member]
Basic and diluted earnings per share (Textual) [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	17,070	0